Quick answer
Leeds has plenty of family days out with no entry charge. On a wet day, try the Royal Armouries, Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery or Leeds City Library. On a dry day, head for Roundhay Park, Middleton Park or Kirkstall Abbey. Check closed days first, as several close on Mondays and the library on Sundays. Car parks at Roundhay, Golden Acre, the Chevin and Middleton’s Bike Park charge.
Free indoors for a rainy day
- Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds Dock: entry, the galleries and the daily shows and combat demonstrations are free. Booking a free ticket online is recommended, but not required. It opens 10am to 5pm, and is closed on Mondays in term time. Its home page lists 21, 24, 25 and 26 December as closed days. Children aged 15 and under must stay with an adult aged 18 or over. This is a museum of weapons and war, and gallery light levels can be quite low. The Crossbow Challenge (ages 8 and over) and the escape room cost extra. Deep dock water lies outside, so keep hold of small children.
- Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square: a Give What You Can museum, with a suggested donation of £5 per person if you are able. Toddler Town, on the second floor, is a play area for under 5s. The Ancient Worlds gallery holds human remains, and the mummy viewing area is dimly lit. The galleries are closed on Mondays, except bank holidays; on other Mondays only its Brodrick Hall opens, for Trivial Pursuit Leeds. It opens 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday and 11am to 5pm at weekends. Its pages gave no Christmas or New Year times. There is a ramp to the main entrance and a lift to every floor, but no on-site parking.
- Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow: no ticket is needed, and the suggested donation is £5 per person if you are able. Artspace is a relaxed family space with art materials. You may eat your own food there, but not in the rooms with artworks. The gallery is closed on Mondays and opens 11am to 3pm on Sundays. Light levels are low in some galleries, and the visual story says some rooms could be loud or have flashing lights. Outside, a nearby cycle path carries bikes and scooters, so hold small hands.
- Leeds City Library, Calverley Street: the council says you can visit with no need to join, borrow or buy anything. Joining is free if you live, work or study in Leeds. Free Story & Rhyme for under fives is listed on Mondays at 1.30pm and Thursdays at 10.30am, and you just turn up. On 12 November 2026 that listing ran to 23 December 2026. The library is closed on Sundays and has no public car park.
Free parks and playgrounds
- Roundhay Park, north Leeds: over 700 acres with lakes, woods, playgrounds and a skate park, and the council lists no entry charge. The council says entrances and all paths are wheelchair accessible, with some inclines. Car parks charge from £1.20 for up to 2 hours, 8am to 8pm every day. The byelaws ban swimming without reasonable excuse and stepping onto frozen water, so keep children back from the lakes.
- Middleton Park, south Leeds: over 470 acres with a playground, a fishing lake and woodland, and the council lists no entry charge. The visitor centre, cafe and toilet open only 10.15am to 2.15pm on weekdays and 9am to 3pm at weekends. The official pages we checked mention no other public toilet in the park. The car park at Leeds Urban Bike Park charges from £1.20 for up to 2 hours. Keep children away from the lake, and off any ice.
- Horsforth Hall Park, Horsforth: the council lists no admission charge. Its integrated play area lets disabled and able bodied children under 8 play together. Older children have a playground with a Spider’s web climbing feature, a skate park and a trim trail. The council says there are no disabled toilets, and its page lists no other toilets or café. It does not say whether the main car park off Hall Lane charges, so check the signs.
- Fun Arium at The Arium, Whinmoor: a free outdoor play area, with a donation requested to help keep it free. It has a castle for ages 5 to 12, a toddler area for ages 1 to 4 and a sand zone. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Only food and drink bought at The Arium may be consumed there, so no picnics. It closes at 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and 3.30pm on Sunday. The site is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. The official pages mention no parking charge.
Free walks, woods and an abbey
- Kirkstall Abbey, Kirkstall: a medieval abbey ruin in a riverside park with a large playground. Entry is Give What You Can, with a suggested £5 per person if you are able, and carers go free. From October to March it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3.30pm. It is closed on Mondays. Some areas are cobbled or uneven. The large free car park on Abbey Walk leads down a short, steep hill to a pedestrian crossing.
- Golden Acre Park, near Bramhope: the council lists no admission charge. It calls the main circular route around the lake well maintained and fairly flat. The café opens 10am to 3.30pm daily in winter. The council page does not mention a playground. The park has a lake, streams and ponds, so keep toddlers close. Car parks charge from £1.20 for up to 2 hours. Hold hands near the A660.
- Chevin Forest Park, near Otley: woodland and heath on a steep ridge with big views, and the council lists no admission charge. It suits children who enjoy a proper walk. The Friends of Chevin Forest Park say many paths are uneven and steep. Visit Leeds says timber lorries may use some tracks and lists crags for climbing, so keep children close. The park page still lists a café with toilets, but a council report says the café closed in 2020. Plan for no toilets. All five car parks charge from £1.20 for up to 2 hours, and the Yorkgate car park closes at 6pm.
Money-saving tips for Leeds
- Give only if you are able. Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and Kirkstall Abbey suggest £5 per person, as a donation.
- Budget for park parking. At Roundhay, Golden Acre, the Chevin and the Middleton Bike Park car park, charges run 8am to 8pm daily. Pay by contactless card or PayByPhone.
- Plan toilet stops. The council’s Horsforth Hall Park page lists none, and Middleton Park’s toilet keeps short hours.
Frequently asked questions
What can kids do for free in Leeds?
The Royal Armouries, Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Library have no entry charge. So do Roundhay Park, Middleton Park, Golden Acre Park and Fun Arium, though several park car parks charge.
Is there anything free to do in Leeds when it rains?
Yes. The Royal Armouries, Leeds City Museum and Leeds Art Gallery are indoors and free. Leeds City Library runs free Story & Rhyme for under fives, and is closed on Sundays.
Which free Leeds museums open on Mondays?
The Royal Armouries opens on Mondays only in school holidays and on bank holidays, apart from its listed Christmas closed days. Leeds City Museum opens on bank holiday Mondays, 11am to 5pm. Leeds Art Gallery is closed on Mondays.
Where can toddlers play for free in Leeds?
Toddler Town at Leeds City Museum is a play area for under 5s, closed on Mondays except bank holidays. Fun Arium has an outdoor toddler area for ages 1 to 4.
Is Kirkstall Abbey free?
Yes. Entry is Give What You Can, with a suggested donation of £5 per person if you are able. Carers go free, and the abbey is closed on Mondays.
Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Leeds venue pages. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Photo: docpro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).